You who search out our path and our lying down,

you, God, are acquainted with all our ways.

You know that we must have food to stay alive--

and how little we share with the starving.

You know that we are preoccupied with our own welfare

and how meager is our trust in your loving care.

Teach us, O God, what a blessing it is to have food

and to break bread in fellowship with friends.

And teach us how to share our food with the hungry,

for that is a part of striving for your kingdom.

Lectionary Readings

Ps. 103; 150; 117; 139

Neh. 5:1-9

Acts 20:7-12

Luke 12:22-31

Selected Verses

Ps. 139:3

You search out my path and my lying down,
and are acquainted with all my ways.

Neh. 5:2

For there were those who said, "With our sons and our daughters, we are many; we must get grain, so that we may eat and stay alive. …"

Acts 20:7a

On the first day of the week, when we met to break bread, Paul was holding a discussion with [his friends]…

Luke 12:31

Instead, strive for [God's] kingdom, and [what you are to eat and drink] will be given to you as well. …" [Jesus to his disciples]